LANAO DEL NORTE - Two hundred students and barangay officials attended a recently-held program spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST 10) regional office in Linamon town, this province.

The training program, it was learned, included free water testing, free weighing scale calibration and free robotics. The said activity was the first leg of DOST's "Science and Technology Caravan."

During the training, a total of 17 water samples were tested from different water sources in Linamon town, purposely to identify the pH levels, turbidity and water color.

“More or less 2,000 residents in our barangay use the only source of water which is the water spring. We use this in all our daily needs like cooking, drinking, laundry and more. That is why we are here to test the sample of our water to know if this is good to use or not,” said Ms. Jenelyn Escalante, Barangay Kawagad of Purakan, Linamon.

DOST also calibrated a total of 62 baby hanging-weighing scales from different health centers in the municipality.

Julie Anne Baculio, DOST 10 information officer said in a press statement that the calibration of weighing scales helps ensure the accuracy of weighing equipment in accordance with acceptable standards.

The Free Robotics Class for grade students was also among the most attended activity of the day, aimed at encouraging increased enrollment in the field of Engineering and Information Technology.

Emerald Josephine Bellen of Iligan City National High School presented her two Robotics innovation.

Among the featured robotics innovation include the Delibot, a robot that is able to deliver things and accessories. It got the 2nd place in the recently concluded Division Science Fair. The 2nd featured robotic was the Robotage, a robotic innovation that is able to segregate waste. It won in individual robotics competition and also finalist for national robotics competition, it was learned.

Along with this, DOST 10 also presented its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP)and 3D Printer from FabLab Services of Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) using organic plastics to convert into 3D objects.

DOST also showcased onestore.ph, an online shop where DOST supported products can be viewed and bought.

Last part of the activity was DOST's scholarship program, where they have invited the poorest communities in the country to avail of said scholarship with a monthly allowance.

“We are so grateful that the first leg was conducted in our very own town of Linamon, and we are hoping for more activities to be conducted here in our town,” said Municipal Mayor Randy Macapil. - Hicelyn F. Pantorilla/JCE